Laboratory Equipment
Comprehensive guide to essential laboratory equipment and their applications
Description
Essential for precise liquid handling in molecular biology and biochemistry
Common Usage
Used for PCR setup, sample preparation, and reagent addition
Maintenance Tips
Regular calibration, proper tip usage, avoid over-pipetting
Description
Separates components based on density differences using centrifugal force
Common Usage
Cell pelleting, DNA/RNA precipitation, protein purification
Maintenance Tips
Balance tubes, check rotor condition, regular cleaning
Description
Quantifies nucleic acids, proteins, and other biomolecules
Common Usage
DNA/RNA quantification, protein assays, enzyme kinetics
Maintenance Tips
Blank with appropriate solvent, clean cuvettes, lamp replacement
Description
Critical for buffer preparation and maintaining optimal reaction conditions
Common Usage
Buffer preparation, cell culture media, enzyme assays
Maintenance Tips
Regular calibration with standard buffers, electrode storage
Description
Eliminates all microorganisms including spores at 121°C, 15 psi
Common Usage
Sterilizing glassware, media, instruments, and waste
Maintenance Tips
Regular cleaning, water quality checks, pressure testing
Description
Enables visualization of cells, tissues, and microscopic structures
Common Usage
Cell counting, morphology studies, quality control
Maintenance Tips
Clean lenses, proper storage, lamp replacement
Description
Precisely controls temperature for DNA denaturation, annealing, and extension
Common Usage
PCR amplification, RT-PCR, DNA sequencing reactions
Maintenance Tips
Block cleaning, temperature calibration, lid seal checks
Description
Provides controlled environment for biological cultures
Common Usage
Bacterial culture, cell culture, enzyme reactions
Maintenance Tips
Temperature monitoring, humidity control, contamination prevention
Description
HEPA-filtered airflow protects user, product, and environment
Common Usage
Cell culture, handling pathogens, sterile procedures
Maintenance Tips
HEPA filter replacement, airflow testing, UV lamp maintenance
Description
Nucleic acids migrate through gel matrix based on size and charge
Common Usage
DNA analysis, PCR product verification, RNA integrity checks
Maintenance Tips
Buffer preparation, gel casting, electrode cleaning
Description
Creates vortex motion for thorough mixing of samples
Common Usage
Sample mixing, cell resuspension, reagent preparation
Maintenance Tips
Platform cleaning, speed calibration, vibration checks
Description
Provides uniform heating for temperature-sensitive procedures
Common Usage
Enzyme reactions, DNA melting, sample warming
Maintenance Tips
Water level monitoring, temperature calibration, cleaning
Description
Prevents contamination of samples using HEPA-filtered laminar airflow
Common Usage
Tissue culture, media preparation, sterile sample handling
Maintenance Tips
HEPA filter replacement, airflow testing, surface sterilization
Description
Ventilated enclosure for safe handling of volatile or toxic chemicals
Common Usage
Chemical synthesis, reagent preparation
Maintenance Tips
Check airflow, sash inspection, filter replacement
Description
Maintains DNA, RNA, proteins, and cell stocks long-term
Common Usage
Storing bacterial stocks, DNA libraries, tissue samples
Maintenance Tips
Defrosting, temperature monitoring, alarm checks
Description
Keeps biological samples at -196°C for long-term viability
Common Usage
Cell line storage, sperm/egg cryopreservation, tissue preservation
Maintenance Tips
Monitor liquid nitrogen levels, safety checks
Description
Magnet-based stirring with precise temperature control
Common Usage
Buffer preparation, chemical reactions, media preparation
Maintenance Tips
Surface cleaning, magnetic bar checks, calibration
Description
Prevents protein/DNA degradation during centrifugation
Common Usage
Protein purification, DNA extraction, organelle isolation
Maintenance Tips
Rotor cleaning, temperature calibration, balance check
Description
High-throughput analysis of 96/384 well plates
Common Usage
ELISA assays, drug screening, enzyme kinetics
Maintenance Tips
Lamp replacement, calibration, cleaning optical path
Description
Combines shaking and incubation for optimal microbial growth
Common Usage
Bacterial cultures, yeast cultures, protein expression
Maintenance Tips
Lubrication, speed calibration, temperature monitoring
Description
Provides accurate colony counts with magnification
Common Usage
Microbiology assays, antimicrobial studies
Maintenance Tips
Lens cleaning, calibration, light source checks
Description
Allows rapid multiparameter analysis of thousands of cells
Common Usage
Immunophenotyping, apoptosis detection, cell sorting
Maintenance Tips
Laser calibration, cleaning fluidics, filter checks
Description
Uses lasers and optical sectioning for fluorescence imaging
Common Usage
Cell imaging, protein localization, tissue analysis
Maintenance Tips
Lens cleaning, laser alignment, software calibration
Description
Used to analyze protein expression and size
Common Usage
Protein detection, antibody validation
Maintenance Tips
Buffer preparation, electrode cleaning, membrane care
Description
Fast quantification without cuvettes
Common Usage
DNA/RNA quantification, protein concentration measurement
Maintenance Tips
Wipe pedestal, calibration with standards
Description
Essential for buffer/media preparation
Common Usage
Weighing reagents, sample quantification
Maintenance Tips
Regular calibration, clean weighing pan, avoid air drafts
Description
Keeps enzymes, buffers, and samples stable
Common Usage
Storing antibodies, enzymes, culture media
Maintenance Tips
Temperature monitoring, defrosting, cleaning